Leaves of Absence & Sick Leave

Leaves of Absence 

General Leaves

Tenure, Research, and Clinical Track Faculty

Leaves of absence without salary may be granted by the President or a designated representative on recommendation by the Dean to members of the tenure track, clinical, and research faculty for up to one year. Leaves of absence are granted for many reasons, such as childcare, disability, government service, health concerns, military service, and scholarly activity. For more information visit the Standard Practice Guide 201.30-1: Unpaid Leaves of Absence (Instructional): Unpaid Leaves of Absence (Instructional).

Only the Board of Regents may grant unpaid leaves exceeding one year in duration and extensions of unpaid leaves beyond one year for instructional staff when an appropriate request is made on recommendation by the department head, the dean or director, and the president.

It is virtually impossible to extend unpaid leaves beyond two years.

Lecturers

Lecturers may also request leaves of absence. Stipulations concerning leaves of absence are specified in the LEO Agreement Article XXXI Leaves of Absence without Pay and FMLAChild-Care Extension Leave Benefit. This covers Leave of Absence without Pay, Non-Discretionary Leaves (Personal, Child-care, Family Medical) which involves FMLA, as well as.Discretionary Leaves. 

In general, the maximum duration of a leave will not exceed one (1) year or the previously established appointment end date, whichever occurs first. A one-year leave of absence for a lecturer on a multiple- year appointment will be granted with the expectation that the lecturer will be returning from the leave. In unusual circumstances, an academic unit may agree to an unpaid leave of absence lasting longer than one (1) year.

Faculty members on modified duties status will typically be expected to fulfill their other professional responsibilities during the period of modified duties, including responsibilities for which the faculty member is uniquely qualified, such as advising doctoral candidates.

See also SPG 201.93, “Modified Duties for New Parents” for a related University policy.

Sick Leave for Tenure track, Research, and Clinical Faculty

The University’s Sick Leave Policy provides tenure-track, clinical, and research faculty with a paid leave plan for personal illness, injury or preventive medical or dental care that is either unavoidable or in the best interest of the University and its faculty members. These rights are specified in a series of SPGs:

 SPG 201.11-1 - Sick Leave Plan – Academic Appointments

 SPG 201.11-0 - Sick Time Pay

Sick Leave for Lecturers

Lecturers have similar safeguards which are specified in the LEO Contract.